A controversial video from 2021 featuring the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has resurfaced online, intensifying calls for his resignation from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
The footage, which dates back to Matawalle’s tenure as the Governor of Zamfara State, captures him appearing to defend armed bandits during an interview at the State House in Abuja.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting with then-President Muhammadu Buhari, Matawalle argued that the perpetrators of violence in his state were not entirely to blame for their actions.
“Not All of Them Are Criminals”
In the archived interview, Matawalle challenged the narrative that all bandits are criminals, suggesting instead that many had taken up arms in retaliation against perceived injustices meted out by local vigilante groups.
“Not all of them are criminals,” Matawalle stated in the video. “If you investigate what is happening, and what made them to take the laws into their hands, some of them, sometimes were cheated by so-called vigilante groups.”
He went on to explain the cycle of violence from the perspective of the armed groups: “They normally go to their settlements and destroy property and take their animals.
They did not have anyone to speak with, so sometimes, they go for revenge. When the vigilante group attacks them, they go for reprisals. That is exactly what happened.”
Experts Demand Immediate Sack
The video’s return to the public eye has triggered a wave of condemnation, particularly from security analysts. Zagazola Makama, a prominent counter-insurgency expert, has publicly urged President Tinubu to dismiss Matawalle immediately.
Makama’s call for action aligns with the broader restructuring of Nigeria’s defence leadership. The outcry comes just days after the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, tendered his resignation, leading to the nomination of General Christopher Musa (rtd), the former Chief of Defence Staff, as his replacement.
Geopolitical Pressure
The internal pressure on the presidency is reportedly compounded by external diplomatic tensions. Critics have linked the recent adjustments in Nigeria’s security architecture to alleged pressure from the United States government.
Reports suggest the shake-up may be an attempt to placate US President Donald Trump, following threats of intervention over allegations of an unchecked “Christian genocide” in Nigeria. The administration appears to be recalibrating its security apparatus to address both domestic incompetence and international scrutiny.
This video is relevant as it features Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal publicly calling for Bello Matawalle to resign and clear his name regarding allegations of mismanagement, echoing the current public sentiment.
